Arkansas Reads
The Arkansas Reads Program partners with elementary schools in the Arkansas Delta to increase their library collections. In past years, we have provided resources for elementary schools in Augusta, Dermott, Brinkley, Star City, Monticello, Hughes, Marvell, and Marianna. In 2025 our partner schools are Mountain View and Camden Elementary schools. Since its creation in 2009, the Arkansas Reads Program has donated over 50,000 books to partner elementary schools in the Delta Region.
In 2017, through a generous donation from the Chancellor's Office, the program was able to enhance our partner schools' library resources even further. The gift helped purchase Fire Tablets that feature hundreds of e-books at varying reading levels, allowing for an interactive reading experience for students at C.B. Partee Elementary (Brinkley), Dermott Elementary, and Augusta Elementary.
In 2025, with support provided by the Small Town and Rural Schools (STARS) Network, we were able to significantly expand our book purchases to further support rural Arkansas schools.
Additional support for the Arkansas Reads Program is provided by a number of partners on campus:
- Office of the Chancellor
- Brown Chair in English Literacy
- Center for Arkansas & Regional Studies
- College of Engineering
- Greek Life
- Honors College & Advanced Placement Summer Institute
- Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
- Volunteer Action Center
- Women's Giving Circle
Women's Giving Circle Recordings
In the spring of 2015, through a grant from the Women's Giving Circle, the program purchased books that feature women in prominent scientific roles, with the goal of encouraging elementary-aged girls to pursue education and careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). University of Arkansas alumni, faculty, students, and staff created recordings to accompany each of the 40 books purchased for the program with Women's Giving Circle funds. Each volunteer created an introductory recording introducing her/himself, discussing her/his journey to higher education, and describing her/his plans for the future. Those recordings can be heard below.